Suffragette Girl Read Online Free PDF Page B

alike were entertained to music and dancing in one of the huge barns, where trestle tables were
laid out laden with beer and enough food to feed an army. This year it was the Candlethorpe folk who were to travel to Bixley Manor.
    ‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world.’ Florrie smiled.
    ‘And tell your grandmother,’ Gervase said, ‘she can sit in the bay window overlooking the field where the bonfire’s been built.’
    Florrie hooted with laughter. ‘Gran? Sit indoors whilst we’re all outside? I think not. Mother might – but not Gran.’
    Gervase smiled fondly. ‘What a character she is. She’s a remarkable old lady.’
    ‘Old? Gran? Don’t let her hear you say that. She doesn’t think sixty-eight is old.’
    Gervase laughed. ‘Well, on her it certainly isn’t.’
    As Florrie led the way to the front door to see him out, the butler hovered in the hall. ‘It’s all right, Bowler, I’ll see Mr Richards out.’
    ‘Very good, Miss Florrie.’ He gave a small bow and turned away.
    As they crossed the hall, Florrie asked casually, ‘Is Isobel still at home?’
    ‘Oh yes. She’s not going back to London until next Monday.’
    Florrie held open the heavy front door and, as he passed by her, she reached up impulsively and kissed his cheek. ‘Dear Gervase,’ she whispered softly.
    He paused a moment, looking down into her upturned face. The face he knew so well and loved so dearly. But the look in her eyes was that of a very dear and devoted friend, not of a girl madly in
love with him. He gave a little sigh as he put on his trilby. ‘Until tonight, my dear.’
    ‘Hey, Florrie!’ James was leaning over the banister at the top of the stairs looking down at her in the hallway below. ‘Have you quite broken poor old Gervase’s heart
then?’
    She closed the front door and turned to look up at him. She grimaced and then grinned. ‘So you’ve heard. I expect everyone knows by now then.’
    ‘Cheek!’
    She climbed the stairs towards him. ‘You’re not renowned for keeping secrets, my dear little brother.’
    James threw back his head and laughed. ‘You can’t keep any secrets in this place. The servants have their own grapevine and the tiniest whisper goes round them all in a
flash.’
    She reached the top. ‘You know I’ve refused him then?’
    ‘Not exactly, but I guessed you would.’ James chuckled as he added, ‘I’ve always wondered why he cultivates my friendship. After all, he’s so much older than me. I
must seem only a boy to him. Now I know. It isn’t me at all he wants to be with, it’s you.’
    Florrie was thoughtful for a moment before saying, quite seriously, ‘I think he likes being here with all our family. He’s no brother, and his only sister is six years older than
him. And she has her own circle of friends—’
    ‘Oh, the Votes for Women brigade.’
    Florrie ignored his remark. ‘His mother died when he was a baby and his father five years ago. And Isobel spends a lot of time in London.’
    ‘Rumour has it,’ James said in a loud whisper, ‘that his sister has a lover in the city.’
    ‘James! What do you know about such things!’
    He guffawed. ‘A chap can’t be at a boys’ boarding school for the last four years without learning all that sort of stuff. Want to know what else I know?’
    ‘No, thank you!’ She held up her hand, palm outwards, as if fending him off. ‘I don’t want to hear your smutty schoolboy talk, thank you very much.’
    ‘It isn’t smutty,’ he began indignantly and then grinned. ‘Well, not all of it.’
    ‘Oh – you!’ She linked her arm through his and they walked together along the landing towards the room that had once been the nursery and which they still used for their own
private space. Nannies and tutors within the household were a thing of the past. James had attended a boys’ boarding school since the age of ten and there was talk of Florrie being sent to a
finishing school before being presented at court. But